- Chicago-Area School System Combining Digital Content and Professional Learning to Create Innovative STEM Learning Experiences for All Students-
Silver Spring, Md. (October 1, 2018) – Illinois’ School District 54 (SD54) today announced the selection of Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, to support the school system’s multi-year strategic plan, 54 Promise. Through a combination of award-winning digital content and sustained, job-embedded professional learning, Discovery Education is helping SD54’s educators create an innovative STEM curriculum that will support the success of all district students.
54 Promise is a multi-year strategic plan guiding SD54’s core work of ensuring whole-child student success. The result of the collaborative efforts of the School District 54 Strategic Planning Committee and community stakeholders, 54 Promise provides the entire SD54 community clarity around the key district goals and operating priorities driving the school system for years to come. Discovery Education was chosen specifically to support 54 Promise’s focus on cultivating innovation in learning spaces and instructional design. This effort will begin with the creation of an engaging STEM curriculum that ignites student curiosity and develops the important 21 Century skills district students will need for future success.
Discovery Education’s STEM Connect will serve as a key component of SD54’s new STEM curriculum. A cutting-edge, web-based, interdisciplinary K-8 supplemental resource built on a 4Cs STEM skills framework, STEM Connect helps students develop the creative, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills they need for success beyond graduation. Featuring flexible, modular learning units, STEM Connect provides students an easy-to-follow educational experience that includes real-world challenges, career connections, and hands-on activities.
Discovery Education Streaming Plus will also play a key role in SD54’s engaging new STEM curriculum. Discovery Education Streaming Plus is an award-winning comprehensive digital service supplementing instruction across all K-12 curricular areas. The streaming service helps build students’ mastery in interpreting, understanding, and evaluating information. Students can access a variety of digital assets including images, primary source documents, podcasts, oral interviews, articles, videos, interactives, and more, and are empowered to become content creators with a suite of content creation tools that help teachers and students safely and easily collaborate in real-time on virtual projects. Teacher resources include lesson plans, instructional strategies, interactive learning courses, and content collections organized around themes, as well as a collection of new STEM/STEAM resources designed to fuel a cultural shift in teaching and learning.
To help SD54’s educators embed its new STEM curriculum and progressive teaching strategies into classroom instruction, district educators will also participate in a sustained professional learning initiative called Innovate 54. Powered in part by Discovery Education’s STEM Leader Corps capacity building model, this initiative will also support the creation of a culture of innovative STEM teaching and learning within the district.
SD54 administrators and teachers participating in Innovate 54’s STEM-focused professional learning opportunities will learn new strategies and best practices for building and sustaining a culture of STEM in their schools and will be supported as they master new STEM instructional approaches. With a focus on developing high-quality STEM instruction, creating interdisciplinary lessons and units, and vertically aligning STEM education district-wide, this initiative provides the robust professional development, job-embedded coaching, and administrative leadership support necessary to create centers of STEM excellence.
“The entire team at School District 54 is deeply committed to creating an innovative environment of teaching and learning,” said Andy DuRoss, School District 54 Superintendent. “This new partnership with Discovery Education empowers our educators to combine evidence-based pedagogy with cutting edge digital technologies to create the innovative, blended, STEM experiences we know will captivate today’s students. We look forward to getting started on this exciting effort.”
Throughout this collaboration, SD54 educators will receive support from the . A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Community connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing and inspiration.
“Discovery Education is proud to have been selected by School District 54 to support the creation of their new STEM curriculum,” said, Discovery Education Partnership Manager Emily Keith. “Superintendent DuRoss and his entire team are deeply committed to creating a vibrant culture of innovation across the district, and we look forward to working with all School District 54 educators on this exciting effort.”
For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit , and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through , follow us on Twitter at , or find us on and .
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About Discovery Education
As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by the global media company Discovery Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Explore the future of education at .
